Kenya police reopen 999 emergency number

Kenyan police have told the BBC that their 999 emergency number for the capital has reopened after 15 years but is being overloaded by prank calls.

In July a court ordered the police to switch it back on by the end of July, but BBC calls to the number in Nairobi have gone unanswered.

Police turned off the number in 1998, saying they did not have the personnel and facilities to deal with the calls.

Residents had to use long local numbers to get through to the police.

The BBC's Caroline Karobia in the capital, Nairobi, says it was often easier to go to the nearest police station to report a crime than look up a nine-digit number for the service.

Nairobi police chief Benson Kibui told the BBC by phone that since the number was turned back on they had received prank calls, for example people looking for a hotel.

It had also been overloaded by those testing the line, he said.

Kenyan activist Okiyo Omtatah went to court in May seeking to get the number switched back on.

More Than 9,000 Nigerians Are In Foreign Prisons – FG

Over 9,000 Nigerians are presently languishing in prisons abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK, while most of the rest are in prisons in the Asia-Pacific region, the Federal Government has disclosed. Foreign Affairs Minister, Gbenga Ashiru, also said that the ministry was investigating the circumstances surrounding the sack of the Nigerian Acting Chief Justice of Gambia, Joseph Wowor, who was alleged to be soliciting bribe over a case. Ashiru said the country would not defend any Nigerian that breaks laws of other countries, but assured that the ministry will look into the case to ascertain whether any form of highhandedness was used against him. “We believe in due process and the rule of law. We believe in the judiciary, where our Chief Justice is working round the clock to sanitise the judiciary. “The case in Gambia is being looked into and if there is any case of highhandedness or what ever, the Nigerian government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of Nigeria is protected. “We are all living witnesses to the fact that where any government in Africa unduly takes action against a Nigerian, the Nigerian government will act appropriately. “We have various ways to do that. We have done it in the past and we will continue to do it. “One of our own principles is that we will stand up any where in the world, especially where it is a case of victimisation or injustice. “However, when a Nigerian wilfully plans to commit a crime, then he is on his own because we don’t support criminality, indiscipline or breaking the laws of any country.” Ambassador Ashiru also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring gay marriage has no place in the country. He therefore warned the United States and the United Kingdom to desist from trying to impose gay rights in the country since “our laws, traditions and customs are against it.”

The government also vowed to take appropriate measures against the controversial £3,000 bond to be imposed on Nigerian visa applicants to the UK if it comes to fruition in November.

2 Killed By Cult Group In Ogun

Suspected cult members have killed two persons in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

The incident occurred at Ajegunle-Ijada and Ishado areas of the town on Wednesday evening.

Reports say the victims, 22-year-old Lekan Ojaewele, and 20-year-old Muyiwa Adeyemi, were apprentices in the barbing and electronics businesses.

According to investigations, the deceased were accidental victims, as their bosses were the targets of the cultists.

Ojaewele was said to have been killed on his way to his boss’, while Adeyemi was murdered while sleeping inside a shop belonging to his boss.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said the cult members came on motorcycles to launch the attacks.

Confirming the incident, Head of Ijebu-Ode vigilance group, Mr Yemi Odukoya, said the victims died in retaliatory attacks launched over the killing of a member of the Aye cult by the Eiye cult, Tuesday night.

Lamenting the incessant killings in the town by cult groups, Odukoya said the vigilance group could not do much due to limited resources.

Also confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, urged members of the community to assist the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the hoodlums.

“These bad elements live among the people in the community and they can only be fished out with useful information by the people,” Adejobi said, adding that security in the town had been beefed up with the deployment of more officers from the neighbouring command.

Lawyer Docked Over Forgery Of Will

Forty-six-year-old wife of a deceased millionaire, her lawyer and another have been arraigned by the Edo State Police Command over alleged forgery of Will.

The accused, Mrs. Mercy Sheidun, a lawyer; Barr. Samuel Urhoghide and one Jonah Sojah, were arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery.

The three accused pleaded not guilty of the alleged offence.

According to the charge sheet MOR/389/2013, , the accused persons on August 22 1997 at 3 Isibor street off Murttala Mohammed Way in Benin city allegedly conspired among themselves to commit felony.

According to the Prosecutor, Inspector Osaretin Ogiehor, the accused persons “did forge a testament instrument to wit; a will purported to have been made by late Sir Kola Sheidun, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 465″ of the criminal code.

He said the alleged offences were punishable under section 516, Cap 48, Vol.11 and section 467(2) of the criminal Code Cap 48. Vol.11 Laws of the Defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, as applicable in Edo State .

Mrs. Sheidun and Urhoghide were granted bail on self recognition as lawyers by the trial Magistrate, Mr. Peter Asemota, while the third accused, Sojah, was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum, who must be a house owner within the Oredo magisterial district.

Asemota then adjourned the case to September 23 for hearing.

Stella Damasus’ Second Husband Sues Her For Snatching Another Actress’s Husband While Still Married To Him

Star actress Stella Damasus’ Second Husband Sues Her For Secret Infidelity

Veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus is facing demons from her past.

Information reaching me is that the fair skinned beautiful actress, Stella Damasus apparently didn’t divorce her second husband before she sealed the knot with the third – Daniel Ademiroka.

As a result, her second husband, Emeka Nzeribe has decided to take the case to a court where he plans on suing Stella for marrying and living with another man (Doris Simeon’s husband) while they are still married, legally.

If Emeka Nzeribe gosr through with his court case, it would make situations worse for the actress who is already being criticized on the social media recently by her fans who said she lack the moral right to insult Senators over under-age marriage, since she is not also laying a good foundation for other ladies.

EFCC Arrests Presidential Candidate Over N66m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested the Presidential candidate of Hope Democratic Party, HDP, at the 2011 Presidential election in Nigeria, Chief Ambrose Owuru over an allegation of obtaining N66 million from one Ikechukwu Eze, under false pretense.

Owuru was arrested on Wednesday following a complaint by Mr. Eze who alleged that sometimes in March 2011, that he paid the sum of N60 million to Owuru who is also a legal practitioner, for a property located at Nzimiro Street, Amadi flat, Port Harcourt, through Skye Bank, Olu Obansanjo Road branch, Port Harcourt.

However, in the process of taking possession of the property, Eze discovered that a portion had been sold to another person. At this point, Owuru allegedly asked for another N6m to settle the other buyer, one Chief Austin Omire, which Eze allegedly obliged him.

Since taking the N6m, every attempt by Eze to take possession or develop the said property met with resistance prompting his petition to the anti-graft agency who subsequently invited Chief Owuru, but he refused to honour the commission’s several invitations, which led to his arrest.

The anti-graft agency in a press release by its Acting Head of Media & Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, stated that investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Security Operatives Storm Ladipo Market Over Baba Oloja Crisis

Following the refusal of some traders at the popular Ladipo market, Mushin to recognise the new Baba Oloja as the leader of the market, armed soldiers and policemen have been drafted to the Market to keep things under check as tension brew at the market.

A combined force of armed soldiers and mobile policemen were seen at the market this morning at strategic points to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Many of the traders however feigned ignorance of why security agents were deployed to the market.

President-General of Ladipo Auto Central Executive Committee, LACEC, Mr. Ikechukwu Animalu who spoke on the presence of heavily armed men at the market said the men were brought to the market by the new Baba Oloja, Alhaji Oki, to take control of the market.

He said he got information yesterday that Oki had mobilised soldiers, policemen and members of OPC to take over the market, an information he immediately intimated the Area ‘D’ Commander, Mushin and the state command of, adding that the matter was being investigated.

Animalu said he advised the traders to remain calm when he was told this morning that armed security personnel had been deployed to the market, while he reiterated the stand of the traders not to recognise the new Baba Oloja.

“We will not recognise him. If he wants to lead the market, he should wait for my tenure to expire and then contest for the leadership of the market,” he stated.